The change on the higher order structure of individual giant double-strand DNA molecules as a function of salt and spermidine concentrations was investigated by single molecular observation with fluorescence microscopy in a wide range of concentration of NaCl, 1×10^<-6>-10^<-1>M. From the time successive fluorescent image, we evaluated the long-axis length and the hydrodynamic radius. I propose a scheme for two types of the folding transition manner of single DNAs.

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STPR (score and three amino acid peptide repeat) domain acts as a DNA binding domain in Figroin-modulator-binding protein-1 (FMBP-1). From the single molecular observation of individual DNA chain by use of fluorescence microscopy, it has become clear that STPR domain induces a large discrete conformational change from an unfolded coil state to a folded compact state.

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In order to estimate the amount of nutrient salt flowing into Ago Bay, a survey of TN, TP was carried out in the rivers around Ago bay. As in the previous report, we have already estimated an amount of N, P in the rivers flowing into Ago Bay. However, half of the rain water has flown into Ago Bay in the rainy days. In order to estimate the total amount of N and P flowing into Ago Bay, the investigation of the nutrients on the rainy days was carried out in the 6 rivers.

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In the Ohyachi-Heizu waste disposal site, harmful substances such as arsenic, benzene, boron, fluoride were detected in high concentration in the ground. In order to identify the influence on the ground water, we have been investigating the ground water in the vicinity of the disposal site for the past one year. Higher concentrations of arsenic, D-Fe, D-Mn were found in the ground water near the disposal site, and this suggests an elution of these pollutants from the disposal site.

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In China, although installation of dust collectors to capture airborne particulates has to some extent to do the battle against air pollution, desulfurization and denitration of SOx and NOx are almost never performed. This situation is nearly identical to that in which the problem of Yokkaichi Asthma arose. Therefore, adverse health effects such as the respiratory disease caused by SOx air pollution in Yokkaichi are anticipated as well. We have already studied, from an economic viewpoint, the relation between investments to prevent pollution and damage to health in the case of Yokkaichi city. This subsequent research ultimately gave rise to an interdisciplinary model integrating engineering techniques such as pollution-diffusion simulation with estimation of damages in an economic cost-benefit analysis. This study examines the possibility of sustainable development by applying these techniques in Tianjin, China, and clarifies the relationship between investments in pollution prevention and the costs of the damages caused by pollution.

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In yokkaichi, pollution preventing facilities were fully installed in 1970s, and the initial investment costs may be large about 100 billion yen or more. And then, the atmospheric environment can be maintained under 0.01 ppm of SOx concentration in entire Yokkaichi area to the healthy condition. Above these facts obtained in Yokkaichi indicate that the minimizing total investment plus compensation costs was not an adequate solution. When saying in other words, surplus investment was done for the air pollution prevention in Yokkaichi Area. We successfully demonstrate the simplified relation between annual averaged SO_2 concentration value in ppm and the total environmental investment costs based on the experience of Yokkaichi in the past.

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Diatom assemblages in the sediment and plankton collected from Lake Takanami-ike, Niigata Prefecture, in September 2006 was studied. A total 90 taxa, belonging to 25 genera were found from this Lake, the dominant taxa and subdominant taxa were Cyclotella stelligera Cleve & Grunow and Cyclotella comta (Ehrenberg) Kutzing.

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This paper we reports the diatom assemblages in the sediment and plankton collected from Lake Aburagafuchi, Aichi Prefecture. A total 110 taxa, belonging to 33 genera were found from this lake. The dominant species and subdominant species were Skeletonema costatum and Bacillaria paradoxa, Melosira varians found in the sediment.

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The International Center for Environmental Technology Transfer (ICETT) and Yokkaichi University jointly had Climate Technology Initiative Workshop on September 27, 2007 at Yokkaichi University. Eight participants jointed the workshop from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia as well as more than ten students from Yokkaichi University. Interaction with the students and the participants were excited, especially oversea students from respective countries provided useful comments from their reality in their daily lives in Japan. Lectures from Yokkaichi University were also useful to the participants because the lectures showed experiences to overcome from heavy air pollution. This paper also proposes possible effective joint seminar to the next opportunity between ICETT and Yokkaichi University.

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Ellen H. Richards (Ellen Henrietta Richards, maiden name: Swallow, 1842-1911) was the first woman bachelor of science and the first woman professional chemist in the history of the U.S. In 1904, Richards published "The Art of Right Living". In it, she suggested the idea of <the fourth "R">-"the Art of Right Living". The three "R"s taught to children at schools in the U.S. were "Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic". The fourth "R" was made up of "eating, sleep, amusement, exercise and work". Richards' thinking on "eating, sleep, amusement, exercise" was therapeutic for people's physical and mental wellbeing, While her thinking on "work" is philosophical for their spiritual wellbeing. Richards thought that the fourth "R" was necessary to help people to adapt to their natural environment, and she claimed that schools should not only teach children the conventional three "R", but also the fourth "R" in order to turn them into efficient adults who are able to adapt to their natural environment in the future. In "The Art of Right Living", Richards first pointed out the necessities of fresh air and safe water, and moreover stated concretely <the fourth "R"> and the relations between work and adaptations to the natural environment. It has been more than 100 years since Richards published <the fourth "R"> idea, but it still has significance today for the resolution of environmental problems and more broadly for the enjoyment of life. In this paper I chiefly discuss the "eating, sleep, amusement, exercise" as the component of <the fourth "R">, and I will give some thought to the "work" as a fifth item in another paper.

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The largest illegal dump of waste in Japan (2.86 million m^3) has come to light in the Oyachi-Heizu district in the northern part of Yokkaichi city. Dumping went on at the site from about 1970 to 2004. On the basis of information released by Mie prefecture, this paper relates how the accumulation of waste took place and describes the nature of the problem.

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From 2005 to 2007, the Electronic Publishing Seminar has been working to create a 40 minute animated movie using the .mac server and iDisk functions of Mac OS X. Through this report, the author describes how seminar members have created new methods and protocols for making animation, supported by Web 2.0 technology. In addition, the author explains how media literacy development can succeed if the younger generation utilizes these tools.

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